Nuclear Electric Propulsion Via Three-dimensional Torsional Magnetic Reconnection

Deployable high-power nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) must pass the critical standard of operating at 100 kW of input power for 100 consecutive hours using xenon fuel. To date, no existing plasma rocket prototype can pass this critical threshold. We will describe the final year of initial testing of an electric rocket concept that exploits the ubiquitous astrophysical process of torsional magnetic reconnection (TMR) that directly converts stored magnetic energy into plasma kinetic energy. We have designed and tested a prototype TMR rocket to Technology Readiness Level 3/4 that will advance to enter and pass the 100-by-100 test and is built from commercially-available components. In this presentation, we will show the current status of the TMR rocket and its pathway to entering and passing the 100-by-100 test. We will show the MRR operating with repetitive pulsed power solid-state switching and real-time monitoring of performance diagnostics. The TMR rocket can also provide the technology push for the advancement of space-qualified nuclear fission reactors. We will describe a nuclear test of the TMR rocket toward future operation as a Mars transfer vehicle.